The Headless Ghost Of Dow Hill, Kurseong

Kurseong is a small town located about 32 kilometers from the famous hill station of Darjeeling. The actual name of the place was Kharsang meaning “Land of the White Orchids” in the Lepcha language but over the time it changed and this town is now known as Kurseong. Interestingly enough, this place has quite a history to it. Initially it was a part of the kingdom of Sikkim but then later conquered by the Nepalese Gurkhas. Then in 1817, after the Gurkha War, it was again restored as a part of Sikkim. British liked this town very much and would love to travel here all the time; they even built a road to Kurseong. It also has one of the oldest municipalities in the seat of West Bengal.

This place is a perfect destination for tourists seeking to spend some time in the hills. There are numerous religious sites, natural sites, museums and treks in Kurseong but despite all this, the one thing that attracts people here are the famous haunting tales. This town is over-shadowed by the nearby hill station of Darjeeling and majority of the people would just visit and return from Darjeeling. The only thing that makes people travel from Darjeeling to Kurseong is to find about more about the place that is listed as one of India’s most haunted.

Usually with places believed to be haunted, that is one particular spot that seems to be the center of all supernatural activities. But with Kurseong it is a different story altogether. It seems that this entire hill-station is more or less a ghost town. A haunted building, a haunted road, mysterious forests, sinister treks, headless corpse, ghost of a woman running after people, whispers in the wind, red eyes in the dark, screams of women, mysterious deaths, you name it and Kurseong has got it. Every ghost story, every legend you have ever heard seems to have taken shape here and of course, the locals brag about it so fondly.

Dow Hill

Out of the many places believed to be haunted in Kurseong, the number one spot is definitely of Victoria Boys High School, located on Dow Hill. Surprisingly, this beautiful school is over 100 years old which would probably make it one of the oldest still functional schools in the country. Its foundation was laid by British in the year 1879. There are several stories about this school but all the incidents occur during the holiday season when the entire school is shut-down. People talk about how they still hear boys running and laughing in the corridors of the empty building. Some people mention seeing a boy standing at one of the windows, staring at them from the inside while the school was closed for holidays and there could not have been anyone inside. The most sinister story however is of a headless boy who haunts this school and many people claim to have seen it either on the premises or around the building of the school. School administration however of course denies all these rumors. There has never been a recorded death on the premises, either accidental or natural. None of the teachers or students has ever seen a ghost in the building, the students however though love to talk about it but teenagers getting fascinated by ghost stories would hardly surprise anyone.

Another believed to be haunted spot in Kurseong is Dow Hill and the forest surrounding it. Our headless ghost seems to be present here as well however at Dow Hill he does more than just making an appearance. As per the locals, while walking alone on the roads at Dow Hill, several people found themselves being followed by the headless zombie. Later on this ghost would just disappear in the forest but would forever haunt the memories of the person who saw it. People talk about how anyone who ever saw this ghost would always had that feeling that they are being followed by someone or there is a pair of eyes looking at them at all times. This feeling would torment and depress the person so much that it would eventually lead to a suicide. Some of the other tales about the Dow Hill forest are the usual tales of people hearing voices, sightings of a woman in white, red eyes staring out of the dark and many more of ghost tales that you would usually hear about several other places. Another thing that Dow Hill is notorious for are the murders and suicides that have taken place here, of which the administration offices have no record.

I cannot say that why anyone would believe that Kurseong needed a ghost to be known. This place has already made its mark in the history and is stunningly scenic. The ascent from Rangtang to Kurseong comprises of beautiful landscapes, wooded mountains, tea gardens, tea factories and forests. Furthermore, it is quite a busy town in itself that is filled with children while the two great once British schools Dow Hill Girls and Victoria Boys school are open. There is nothing sinister about this place at all. It is just a quiet hill station standing still in time. There have certainly been deaths here but people die everywhere. It’s not like that the people here are immortals. Every city, every town, every village in the world has cases of murders and suicides. So what makes the deaths in Kurseong a work of ghosts? Why can it not be that people killed each other or themselves out of their own problems?

One common thing about all the “believed to be haunted” places is that locals love to talk about their ghosts, as if they are talking about their pet dog. I once read a theory somewhere that once these tales are told too often, even the lies that we ourselves told takes shape of a truth in our own hearts. Children here grow up listening to these stories and even though they never see anything supernatural themselves; by the time they reach their adulthood they hold a firm belief that the place they live in is indeed haunted. Some people talk about ghosts just for fun while others talk because they know it will promote tourism to the place. More than half of the tourists in Kurseong ask around about the locals and where can they hope to see a ghost, as if they are in a zoo and want to see the tiger. These are the people who would go back and tell other how they indeed see a ghost or something supernatural when the truth actually is that they saw nothing.

Ghost or no ghost, the truth is that Kurseong is a peaceful town that has been made look sinister by the locals themselves. There is a beautiful 150 year old school which is being portrayed as a haunted building rather than a monument of British era. Beautiful dense forests are being talked about as murder and suicide spots. I agree that it is indeed promoting the tourism here but is all that really needed? Darjeeling is anyways over-crowded, more of a residential city than a tourist destination and people often go looking for more secluded spots where they can spend some time in peace. That gives ample opportunity to Kurseong to receive its own share of tourists. So why all the ghost stories?

One thing that everyone overlooks is that this place is crowded with children, not only the ones that belong here but of other towns too, coming to attend school. These children walk down the same roads, spend their time in the same building but have never been bother, hurt or killed by any ghost ever. How is that possible if indeed this place is so haunted? Do kids no always become the easy prey for evil spirits to posses or hurt in all the ghost stories?

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Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

65 comments

Sankar BasakAugust 1, 2018 - 6:01 am

I was born in Kurseong in 1949. Studied at Dowhill school and Victoria school. Heard nothing about boast etc. I still love my first home Dowhill.

I was born in kharsang…and my house location is near to Victoria boys school i usually go to tuition after the school which is located in town and i always have to walk that forest every night within 8or9pm i really agreed of this topic it was never happed to me before its almost the durga pooja time when im walking to home from town…i know i was a bit drunk that time when a small boy tries to follow me i thought it was dog or something else i haven’t care abt that time i really dont know what was that at the time when i noticed someone is following me so i havet look back and my legs and my hand began to vibrates out of sock and when the time i see my left side i see something someone is running towards me from the Victoria school ground down to small ground when i see that thing id really got frightened after i see someone running towards me at that time that thing began to roll itself like someone is falling down the cliff i really dont know first i notice a chappal sound at the back besides im wearing the shoes and on my left when i noticed running towards me and eventually start to roll so i really got frightened at that time and i run like a hell from that incidents id neva walk alone at night on those creepy Road…

I have studied in Victoria for 6 years (2010-2015) and I have never encountered any such things through out the years.To me Victoria was the most beautiful place where I enjoyed the most along with my friends.I dont know why people are busy spreading such rumours about the school that it is haunted instead of praising it for its utmost beauty..I too have heard these stories but never believed in them.

Thank you VARGIS…I had been surveying about this Dow hill from long..& after my long survey, I read this article of yours which is quiet appealing in some manner! I totally agree with u & will support ur article with some more evidences

I stayed in Kurseong for almost 13 years..
We were a group of friends, five of them.
And we have been hearing this story since our childhood, and so we wanted to meet the headless boy and we used to walk the road (Dow Hill to Forest Office) at least 15-16 times in the midnight, but never got so fortunate to meet one. So this is only a bullshit!

I’m in Oz (Australia) but my mum studied at Dowhill for girls sometime in the 30s I reckon. Her achievement there was that she came first in her class for all her years at school. Anyway RIP mum as she passed away in 2004 at the ripe old age of 87. I shall dig in to her artifacts and see if there are any “ghost stories”. Best wishes

I was a student of Victoria Boys School from 1961 till 1968,(studied as a border from class 1 to class 7). It was one of the greatest memorable parts of my life. Yes, i was very small but I often heard that some parts of the school and hospital were haunted and all these stories would be discussed. But I never came across any unnatural feeling in my short stay. All I can say that its one of the most beautiful places I have spent part of my life. In this connection I wish my best ever friends Dilip Kumar Ghosh and Bhanu Norden have been disconnected ever since. If any of them read this and recollect our over 5 decade friendship and connect with me in the mentioned number I will be a very happy person. Gautam Sarkar, Delhi, 09990976775

Kurseong is a really nice place indeed. I really njoy out dere.Well its usually my Holidays spot bt it hs been a part of my lyf. I really luv being dere n da pple aroud dere is also so gud. I hd been dere few weeks ago. It ws a gr8 fun out dere.Evn my frns wer talking bout all dis things. We evn walked da way wer dat headless ghost is said to appear bt mayb he ws kinda scared wid three of us.He didn’t appear. We evn went to a so called haunted houz de oder day ..bt nthing happened.Bt it ws a gr8 adventure. I spent a quality of tym wid dem. Its really advisable fo ani1 to visit dere coz place is damn nice. Dere r lots of places to visit wich r vry peaceful n attractive. Bt “BEWARE OF MONKEYS “

I love this review..its great.i love ghost stories indeed,and that will be an attraction for if i ever go to the lorf of the white orchids BUT mind it i dont believe in ghosts..i love to here stories about them.

As an old pupil of Dow Hill – I am now 82 -let me tell you about the stories that used to circulate when I was there (1940 to 1946). On a Friday night a coffin would roll down the stairs of the girls dormitory, needless to say nobody ever went to the toilet on a Friday night after a certain time. I am really amused to see how the story has grown. I and my family, both Dow Hill and Victoria have very fond memories of both these school and I would love to hear from the younger generation as to how things have changed since that period in time

Thank you so much for sharing your side of the story with us, though I must admit that I am curious for a little more. It would be wonderful to hear from a pupil of the school herself, a story that existed so long ago and has now changed. Please let me know if there is any more you would like to add and I can put it in my article.

i think its a beautiful place to spend ur vacation..there are lots of places said to be haunted some believe, some dont..itz better to deal our own life rather than dragging out the past or pulling all ghost from those places..Every past has its own secret.We try our best to find it but all are from our assumption or imagination..weather ghost exist or not no one knows but one thing is sure human beings are much more scary than ghost.

Have walked down the road to Victoria Boys at least 10 times in my life – mostly on foot. Never saw any ghost. I am scheduled to be back in November and would give it a serious try as I would be shooting a film at that location. A headless ghosht is called “skndhakata” in bengali lore. It would be fun if I get to meet one!!.

I have studied in Victoria School for 7 long years & have only seen beautiful people & wonderfully peaceful academic atmosphere besides the natural; beauty of the place. sad that the place is being given such an obnoxious tag.

I was Born in this beautiful town” the land of white orchid” just below the Dowhill Road. Till now I never new That this beautiful Place is haunted. I have spended nights near the school and the forest nearby the road singing, dancing , drinking Playing and enjoying with my frends, never came across headless Boy lol. though there is lots of ghost stories that our ancestors use to tell about , i respect their thoughts and enjoy the tell.

It is all ridiculous, it is not a rumors, all the fact behind, we all are surviving in my family, my own elder brother studied from this school having an symptom of schizophrenia till today, after he passed from their, he is desperately suffering from highly depression. After all what about rumors we all suffering from last 5 years.

Haha..I am a Dow Hill alumni and in my 10 yrs of schooling never had any such encounter. The only thing we were terrified of were the monkeys that scared the shit out of us during our lunch breaks trying to snatch our food :).. Kurseong is a beauty and Dowhill/Victoria one of its most prized jewel..

One of the favorite route I have cycled ,the forest is mesmerizing and some time misty. While cycling I have met many people living around and have heard their fascinating ghost tales ,though never encountered any of them .one should take a walk or cycle from ghum to dowhill via bagoda chatak pur road if lucky you can see some deer or other animal (I have encountered many of time).it will be best if traveled in a group , to learn more about British legacy there is a reserve in deep forest and is still in operation .

I have visited Kurseong and stayed in a bunglow on Dow Hill itself. We used to walk down and up from the Kurseong bazar. On the way we have seen both the schools; then we were not aware of the place being identified as haunted and truly speaking never had any experience or any kind of uncanny feeling ever in those three days trip. I think the feeling comes from inside or we were lucky enough not have any such experience. But the scenic beauty and the serene surrounding had enchanted us and rejuvenated us from the core.

I stay in Darjeeling and I too have heard about the place called downhill in kurseong so today I decided to search about this place and while finding about that I read this text and I too don’t know if this true or not but I believe about that Dow hill thing…..and I really liked it